Who was your Favorite Battalion Commander and/or Mentor? Why?

Only one. It's been 38 years and I remember him like yesterday. Finance major who was a "Sailor" to his profession, a gentle man with quick wit and razor sharp fangs for those who tried to Bravo Sierra him. What a fine man and sailor of the seas.

LTC David Patraeus, 3/187 Inf, 101st Abn (Air Assault). 91-93. Along with CSM Donald Purdy, they together built the most disciplined and well trained unit I ever served in. I knew I was in for something different when I reported in Dec 1991 and the sign hanging under the big red Torii in front of the Bn HQ read "IRON RAKKASANS, NOT FOR THE WEAK OR FAINT HEARTED", and under that read "MARCH OR DIE". Standards were everything, there was no question. Dude survived a gunshot wound to the chest on a live fire range and maxed the push-ups only months later. Not the most NCO friendly Bn Cdr I ever had, especially if you weren't tabbed, but he did push the unit to be the best and failure or sub-standard performance was never acceptable. You learn to appreciate that.

LTC (now MG) Paul Hurley. He was an amazing commander. He would talk to Soldiers and ask them what the issues in the Battalion were and then act on that. He also kept his promise not to leave anyone on the side of the road when we convoyed from Kuwait to Baghdad.

Without a doubt my most important and powerful mentor as a battalion commander was/is MG(R) Robert A. Harris. After I had transitioned off active duty into the Reserves, I was seeking a job with an Artillery unit in the TNARNG. The TNARNG was over strength at the time and finding a vacancy for a young FA captain was challenging. I finally secured an interview with the incoming commander of the 1-115 FA, then LTC Harris. During the interview, LTC Harris was very honest with me, telling me that if he brought me on board, it would likely block the promotion of a deserving first lieutenant promotable. I offered to him an option as a compromise. I said, "Let me drill with you for 6-months for points only, give me any job you want me to do and I'll do it. If I fail, we part ways and no harm no foul. If, on the other hand, I do a good job for you, you offer me a slot in your battalion." LTC Harris accepted and challenged me with bringing the BN FDC up to speed on the IFSAS and getting a new safety test written and administered across the battalion. The short of it, in 4-months I was formally slotted as the BN FDO. Less than a year later I was given a firing battery command and I eventually was privileged to command that same battalion (though by then it was re-flagged as the Regimental Fires Squadron, 278 ACR).

Through it all, LTC Harris never compromised on standards and expected (demanded) the best from me, but never once micromanaged. He engendered respect and he was a leader you never wanted to hear him say, "you let me down." Never once do I remember him raising his voice in anger or frustration, but when he spoke, no one interrupted and everyone paid attention.

As a result of his professionalism, MG (R) Robert A. Harris has been a professional mentor of mine since 1997.

I have so many. But just a short list....

CTTCS Jeremy Byrd. Not only was he smart as a whip when it came to our rate but he was also a very understanding person. He never yelled but did reprimand when necessary. He also wanted to include junior sailors into conversations that revolved around missions and Navy-based stuff. He also understood what it's like to have kids while you serve. He also had a sense of humor and humility; when he was wrong he will say he is. He was like a big brother for me, making sure that I had things to accomplish, set me up for success and he called me "his right hand" when things needed to get done.

CTTCM Alyssa Lavers. This woman has opened my eyes to many different things. Not only was she my detailer and got my orders to CCSG-12, but she PCS to the Theodore Roosevelt when I embarked as EW LCPO. I got to watch her teach her junior sailors of how to work within the EW Mod and how to conduct work to be effective and was always mission ready. Even having an issue with personal things, even if she wasn't able to provide any assistance she still listened to you rant or just get something off of your chest. I've seen her go from a Chief to a Senior and less than 3 years to a Master Chief. Incredible person both in and out of the military.

ETCS James Malone. Knowing that I am a seasoned sailor, he allowed me to do what I needed to do. He has always been impressed with how a AD sailor was able to transition to Reserve so quickly and take the bull by the horns, so to speak. He compliments my work ethic, never has any issues with me and is always available. He's also concerned for my personal being as well. He makes sure to check in on me, ask me how things are going. He also tries his best for his sailors. Even if we weren't able to strive for what the goal was, we can go over what was wrong, how to go about it the next time. He's also willing to compensate as well; always wants info from his junior sailors as to make something better, easier, stronger.

I surround myself with people like this because when I was just a SN, I was without direction; just coasting by with the minimal. These 3 persons (they aren't alone because there are more). I decided to change before I went to my first command out of A-school. Put my head down, and always did more than expected. I've earned several leaders, both enlisted and officer, their trust in knowing that I can get something done. It's also very interesting to hear from others that "you'll make a great Chief someday." To have a senior enlisted say that to you instills a great honor and I take that with me everyday.

My favorite Battalion Commander was my first Battalion Commander....LTFC Roy Gortney. He was a "tell it like it is" no nonsense commander who showed me that you can be yourself and be brutally honest and have a career. I used his example as a role model and it served me well for 28 years!

My platoon commander in the corps 1LT McDanials. He was a mission first people always leader. I was surprised he was always concerned with my opinion as the acting Plt Sgt.

My Favorite Skippers were Rocket Scientist, Engineers with Degrees out the Asshole but treated me as an Expert and treated me with Great Respect. RADM Dixon, LCDR J.D. Campbell, LCDR Jesse, Capt Margie Turner. For his Wonderful Sense of Humor it would have been Capt Burrows and for his Bearing would Capt Thomas Keithly.

CPT "Wild Bill" Valentine...my first CO on the 'SuperGator'. The gentleman went from E-1 to command, with a stop by Canoe U to see what they knew.

I served as CSM for four Battalion Commanders and got along well with and respected all. Each had their own strong points, but my favorite was LTC John Boule'. LTC Boule' had the perfect mix of mission and training focus. The guy was always out front and if we needed something to make life better, improve survivability or get the job done, he fought tooth and nail for the Troops. When you hear leader; the picture you see in your mind, well that's him.
My military mentors were SSG Richard Faulk, 1SG Alfonso Lee, and CSM Big Anthony Weems. Of these I have no favorite because they were all great.